YouSaid · the spoken record

Brammertz

lines on the record: 454
first: 2006-03-16
most recent: 2023-12-12
sittings or episodes: 36
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We established ajoint task force to coordinate further investigative activities to locate a fugitive in Zimbabwe. The task force has been very active and recently provided another report to my Office showing that it is pursuing a number of promising leads. At the same time, based on information obtained by my Office and confirmed by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau for South Africa, in August I submitted an urgent request for assistance from South African authorities. Unfortunately, despite repeated contacts and reminders, that request has not been answered and no explanation been provided so far. My Office trusts that South Africa, as an incoming member of the Council, will provide the necessary cooperation. Locating and arresting the fugitives is a priority for my Office.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“As I previously reported to the Council, my Office has been taking a number of important measures to strengthen our efforts to locate and arrest the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the ICTR. We restructured our tracking team and adopted a more proactive approach to our work. Those reforms have been matched by a temporary increase in resources, on the clear understanding that we have a limited amount of time to demonstrate a successful track record. Prior intelligence and our investigative activities generated some actionable leads during the reporting period. Accordingly, I travelled to Harare earlier this year to seek the cooperation of Zimbabwean authorities, who assured me of their commitment to adhere to their international legal obligations and the Council's call to Member States.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“We furthermore allege that two of the accused knowingly violated court orders protecting witnesses. The purpose of the alleged contempt of court was to overturn the final conviction of Augustin Ngirabatware, and by doing so undermine the facts of the genocide. My Office has not undertaken that activity lightly, particularly as it has generated a significant additional workload, which has stretched our already lean resources. Nonetheless, we are fully committed to defending the integrity of the proceedings conducted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the ICTY and the Mechanism. My Office wants to send a clear message that our victims and witnesses will be protected and that we will oppose genocide denial in all of its manifestations.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“I can now report that, following an intensive and confidential investigation conducted over the past year, in June my Office confidentially filed an indictment charging five suspects with three counts of contempt of court and incitement to commit contempt of court. That indictment was confirmed in August, and Mechanism warrants of arrest were successfully executed in September by Rwandan police, in close cooperation with my Office. That contempt proceeding, Prosecutor v. Maximilien Turinabo et al., arose out of the review proceedings in the Prosecutor v. Augustin Ngirabatware case. My Office alleges that four of the accused directly, and through intermediaries, interfered with witnesses who had given evidence in Ngirabatware's trial and interfered with witnesses in the ongoing review proceeding.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“On 29 November, shortly after the end of the reporting period, my Office completed the preparation of our written appeals arguments in the Mladic' case, in accordance with court-established deadlines. In addition to that work, my Office also litigated a number of other matters in that case, including motions to disqualify judges. We will continue to take measures within our control to expedite the completion of those final proceedings. Another of the Mechanism's residual functions is the protection of Victims and witnesses. In addition, pursuant to article 14 of the Mechanism statute, my Office is mandated to investigate and prosecute contempt of court.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“My Office continues to focus on expeditiously completing the limited number of trials and appeals transferred from the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In relation to the retrial of the case Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanisic' and Franko Simatovie, we completed the presentation of all our witnesses, except for one. Our final witness is now scheduled to be heard in January. Regarding the Karadeic' appeal, my Office continued to litigate a high volume of matters, including eleventh hour motions to disqualify Judges from the case. We have taken note of the revised schedule for the completion of that case and look forward to the delivery of the judgment.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to address the Security Council about the activities of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. My written report provides details about our activities and results during the reporting period in relation to our usual three priorities (S/2018/1033, annex II). Today I would like to highlight only a few important issues. However, at the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize President Meron and express my Office's appreciation for his service. President Meron has led the Mechanism since its establishment, in July 2012, and greatly shaped our institution during its first years of operations.”
2018-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8416 (2018) · source
“Long- standing recommendations have still not yet been implemented years later. Financial support from national budgets is limited and insufficient. Political will is also needed to create the conditions for witnesses to come forward with information. Glorifying war criminals surely has the opposite effect. The search for missing persons is a humanitarian imperative. It is time for political authorities to be held accountable for their commitments, and to show the courage to put aside all other considerations. My Office is firmly focused on carrying out our remaining responsibilities efficiently and effectively. We also remain committed to providing our full support to national prosecutors and missing persons authorities in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“Over the past six months, many stakeholders have taken the initiative to raise that issue with my Office and seek our assistance, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Presidents of Croatia and Serbia and missing persons authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Efforts are urgently needed to strengthen the search for missing persons. There are 10,000 families - from all sides of the conflict - that still do not know the fate of their loved ones. The ICRC is launching a five-year strategy to further support local mechanisms, which are also improving their methods and cooperation. My Office is committed to providing all possible assistance as requested. Yet Governments have made many commitments to support that work that remain only on paper.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“By successfully arresting a fugitive in coordination with my Office, States can clearly demonstrate their commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law. Finally, my Office anticipates that over the next few years, there will be an increase in the volume of requests for assistance in relation to our ICTR evidence collection. My Office is strengthening our cooperation with Rwandan authorities, in particular with the Prosecutor General's Office. We are also initiating a project to improve access to our evidence. My Office is committed to managing all developments consistent with the Council's mandate for a lean and cost-effective organization. The final topic I would like to address today is the search for missing persons in the former Yugoslavia.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“Secondly, as I have previously reported to the Council, my Office is significantly increasing our efforts to locate and arrest the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the ICTR and ensure those cases are ready for trial. We restructured our tracking team, and adopted a more proactive approach to our work. Those reforms have been matched by a temporary increase in resources on the clear understanding that we have a limited amount of time to demonstrate a successful track record. While the challenges in tracking fugitives are too significant to guarantee a positive outcome, my Office can confirm that we will spare no effort. The victims of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda deserve nothing less. In that regard, I call upon all States to provide full cooperation to my Office. This is an opportunity, not only an obligation.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“We also anticipate that more cases will move forward once challenges in regional judicial cooperation are overcome. Sufficient staff and resources will still be needed temporarily for my Office to address this workload. At the same time thatjudicial activities are winding down in The Hague, my Office anticipates that an increase in judicial activities at the Arusha branch will take place. In fact, that process has already begun. That expectation is informed by three main factors. First, as we outlined in our progress report, at the Arusha branch there has been an increase in review and related litigation initiated by the defence. We expect that there will continue to be a greater workload in that regard than during the first four years of the Mechanism's operations.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“The President has reported that the Stanisic' and Simatovic trial and the Mladie appeal are expected to be completed by the end of2020. That would then only leave appeal proceedings, if any, in the Stanisie and Simatovic' case. Accordingly, we will be increasingly focused in The Hague on our remaining continuous functions, the most significant of which will be responding to requests for assistance from national jurisdictions in relation to our quite extensive evidence collection. As set out in our review report, we anticipate that the number and complexity of requests for assistance will further increase in the coming few years. Countries of the former Yugoslavia have indeed established national war crimes strategies to intensify prosecutions, and have requested our support.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“My Office is also very grateful to all participants for their time, attention and constructive engagement. Our common goal is achieving our mandate through efficient and effective management. As a temporary institution, my Office regularly develops projections for the completion of our functions. Looking forward, I would like to briefly outline anticipated developments for the next few years. At The Hague branch, we will continue finalizing our judicial activities. My Office will progressively reduce our staff and resources as these last cases are completed. With the appealjudgement in the Seselj' case issued two months ago, and the scheduled completion of the Karadeie appeal before the end of the year, there will only be two remaining cases.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“As part of the review of the work of the Mechanism, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) evaluated my Office's work and methods. OIOS concluded that my Office operated with a small staff and tight resources as the Security Council had mandated. It noted that we were effective in planning, restructuring and refining our operational methods. It also identified a number of cost efficiencies that we successfully implemented, including our one-Office policy. At the same, OIOS identified that the high workload, together with organizational downsizing, had an impact on staff morale, particularly at the branch in The Hague. My Office will work to address that issue. The review process established by the Council is an important exercise.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to once again address the Security Council on the activities ofthe Office ofthe Prosecutor. My written report provides details about our activities and results during the reporting period in relation to our usual three priorities (S/2018/471, annex II). With regard to the branch in The Hague, we worked to expeditiously complete our last judicial activities, with only three cases now remaining. With regard to the branch in Arusha, my Office undertook intense efforts to locate and arrest the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). And at both branches, we continued to provide full support to national authorities in relation to the prosecution of serious international crimes committed in Rwanda and in the former Yugoslavia.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“Our national counterparts now have the primary responsibility of achieving greater justice, while our more limited role is in support of their efforts. That support comes through providing them with access to our evidence, sharing our expertise, passing along lessons learned and promoting accountability and the search for missing persons. We are grateful for the continued support of the Council.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“Partners can help mediate so that progress can be achieved on a shared agreement on the recent past. For our national colleagues to succeed, they will need the same support that my Office has always received from the Council, the United Nations and its Member States. It has been a privilege to serve as Chief Prosecutor of the for the past 10 years. I thank the Council for having provided the support needed to secure the arrests of all fugitives and to bring the Tribunal's final cases to a successful conclusion. As Chief Prosecutor of the Mechanism, I am committed to continuing the implementation of the completion strategy and assisting the countries of the former Yugoslavia to move forward.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“The fact is that the crimes were not committed by nations or peoples but by individuals, and most of all by senior political and military leaders. So let me be crystal-clear on this point once again: no community bears responsibility for what these men did. The guilt is theirs and theirs alone. Justice should relieve a society of the weight of collective responsibility, paving the way for acceptance and understanding. That is why although justice alone will not achieve reconciliation, it is an essential condition. It is clear that much more remains to be done. Many Victims, from all communities, are still waiting for justice. The countries ofthe region need support as much as ever before. They will not be able to achieve justice and reconciliation alone.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“Convicted war criminals continue to be seen by many as heroes, while victims and survivors are ignored and dismissed. Difficult facts continue to meet outright denial or rebuttals pointing to the crimes of others. So the question is why reconciliation remains a significant challenge today. The reality is that there is still no true will within the region to accept the immense wrongdoings of the past and move forward, sadly, most of all among the political leadership. Unfortunately, too many listen to war criminals who hide behind claims of collective responsibility. War criminals insist that it is not they who are on trial, but their people. They insist that ifthey are judged to be guilty, then so is their entire community. In contrast, we have always insisted on the principle of individual criminal responsibility.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“This was possible only because of the strong support from the Council, the United States, the United Nations and its Member States. While a number of factors played a role, ultimately one measure was of decisive impact: the conditionality policies applied by the European Union, the United States and other States Members of the United Nations. Our results show that if there is a clear political agenda in favour of accountability, and if the international community speaks with one voice, those most responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law can be held accountable for their crimes. It has been said that the Tribunal has not achieved reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia. It is hard to disagree. As we have seen over the past two weeks, the crimes have left wounds that still have not healed.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“While the ICTY initially followed the path of primacy, under the impetus of the completion strategy and as directed by the Council, my Office pursued the development of an effective system of complementarity and partnership with national judiciaries. The crucial lesson is that in future, where possible there should be an integrated approach that embraces both international and national justice mechanisms. Finally, in relation to cooperation, as my Office regularly reported to the Council, the countries of the former Yugoslavia often failed to adhere to their international obligations, particularly in terms of the arrest of fugitives and access to documents. Yet we succeeded in accounting for all fugitives, at a time when the non-arrest of fugitives is a major challenge for internationaljustice.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“In turn, the completion strategy's legitimacy was further strengthened because it foresaw the transition of our responsibilities to national justice sectors. The Council decided that the Tribunal would close not because our work was done, but because it was convinced that further justice could be achieved by domestic judiciaries, in accordance with international obligations. This was critical because the investigations conducted by my Office identified hundreds of suspects, only a small number of whom we would prosecute as bearing the greatest responsibility. The presumption that national courts would continue the accountability process addressed concerns that the end of the Tribunal's work would lead to impunity.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“I would like to highlight today three of those lessons. My Office considers that the completion strategy represented a successful exercise of the Council's executive authority. By combining the policy direction to focus on those most responsible for the crimes with a deadline for the filing of new indictments, the Council promoted effective and expeditious activity by my Office. For example, the so-called mega-trials that my Office undertook in the implementation of the completion strategy clearly realized significant efficiency gains while also achieving meaningful justice. The completion strategy further ensured appropriate accountability while safeguarding our prosecutorial independence in individual cases.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“For twenty-four years, my Office has endeavoured to fulfil the mandate that the Council entrusted to us: to bring to justice those most responsible for the horrific violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. We will leave a rich and complex legacy. Thanks to the Council, so many victims and survivors received some measure of justice for the immense wrongs they suffered. My last report reviews the Office ofthe Prosecutor's work in implementing the completion strategy in more detail. We identify not only our successes and lessons learned, but also areas where results did not meet the victims' expectations. We believe that our results are credible, and we hope that the Council will judge our efforts to be important contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“In relation to the former Yugoslavia, my Office focused its activities on ensuring continuity following the closure of the ICTY. During my missions to Belgrade and Sarajevo last month, national war crimes prosecutors expressed their commitment to continuing and strengthening cooperation with my Office in future. They further requested that we provide greater support for their efforts to achieve their national war crimes strategic goals. My Office will also continue working with our national colleagues to improve regional judicial cooperation, as there are currently many deficiencies in that respect. The ICTY will close its doors at the end ofthis month.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“We completed the restructuring of our Fugitives and Investigations Unit, and a new tracking team leader has been appointed. Our activities at present are focused on pursuing a number of new leads, while we are also reviewing and following up leads that had been generated in the past but not processed. Finally, we continue to provide assistance to national jurisdictions investigating and prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. In relation to the crimes committed in Rwanda, my Office is focused on improving access to our evidence collection. In addition to making more of our evidence available to national judiciaries, we are working with our Rwandan partners to establish more direct lines of communication to expedite mutual legal assistance.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“The Mechanism's Office of the Prosecutor continues to focus on expeditiously completing the limited number of trials and appeals transferred from the ICTY. During the reporting period, my Office commenced the presentation of its evidence in the Stanisic' and Simatovic' case. In order to reduce the length of this trial, last week we filed a motion to increase the number of trial days and hours per week. My Office also continued its work on the two pending appeal cases. We will present our oral appeal arguments in the Seselj case next week. Locating and arresting the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) remains our second priority. During the reporting period, my Office continued its efforts to reform and strengthen our fugitive-tracking activities.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to once again address the Security Council on the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the activities of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in Arusha and The Hague. I would like to briefly report to the Council first about Mechanism activities, and then turn to the final report of the ICTY Office of the Prosecutor (S/2017/1001, annex 11). But let me first take this opportunity to welcome Her Excellency Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic', President of the Republic of Croatia, and Her Excellency Ms. Nela Kuburovic', Minister of Justice of the Republic of Serbia. We thank them for being with us, and we are honoured by their presence.”
2017-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8120 (2017) · source
“And, crucially, prosecutions of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide must continue in national courts in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, which my Office will support. We are grateful for the continued support of the Security Council.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“With the closure of the ICTR and the upcoming closure of the ICTY, it is now more important than ever to address that challenge. In order to secure a peaceful future, there must be a shared agreement on the recent past. In conclusion, the ICTY will complete its mandate before the end of the year. That will close an important chapter that the Council began 24 years ago. Yet, the work of justice for the victims of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda will continue. My Office will expeditiously litigate the small number of remaining trials and appeals before the Mechanism. We will intensify our efforts to locate and arrest the remaining eight ICTR fugitives so that the victims of their crimes can finally see them brought to justice.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“Tomorrow night, a ultranationalist singer who has been banned in several countries is expected to perform at a benefit concert in Mostar for the six accused in the case of the Prosecutor v. Prlic' et al. Such unacceptable provocations, which are but the latest in a very long list, are an insult to the victims, to this Council and to all who believe in justice. The message of denial and revisionism is loud and clear. They recognize their victims but not the other side's. The other side's war criminals are their heroes. When irresponsible officials use division, discrimination and hate to secure power, conflict and atrocities can gain a logic of their own. That was true two decades ago when the genocide and ethnic cleansing began and it remains true today.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“After the Council first saw the compelling evidence of mass graves around Srebrenica, my Office proved beyond reasonable doubt that genocide was committed in Srebrenica in 1995 through the execution of more than 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, while up to 30,000 women, children and elderly were forcibly expelled. Yet today, genocide is denied. Ethnic cleansing is denied. The individual guilt of senior political and military leaders is denied. A few days ago, the Minister of Education of the Republika Srpska declared that he would ban textbooks that teach students about the recent past, including about the Srebrenica genocide and the siege of Sarajevo. Those facts are taught in classrooms around the world but not in the country where the crimes were committed.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“Over two decades of work, independent and impartial international judges, who ensured fair trials and heard immense bodies of evidence, determined the truth of what happened. After what took place in Rwanda 50 years after the Holocaust, a new generation came to understand the meaning of genocide. As the ICTR established, it is a universally known fact that between 6 April 1994 and 17 July 1994, there was a genocide in Rwanda against the Tutsi ethnic group. The conflicts in the former Yugoslavia taught the world a new vocabulary for the horrors inflicted on innocent civilians: ethnic cleansing. In case after case, the ICTY found that throughout the former Yugoslavia, senior political and military officials implemented criminal campaigns of ethnic cleansing.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“We hope that the relevant national authorities will give our reports full consideration and undertake concrete steps to resolve the significant issues that we have identified. However, today, I am compelled to report on an issue that must be deeply concerning to this Council and the international community - namely, the ongoing, widespread denial of crimes and refusal to accept facts established by the ICTY and ICTR. The horrors of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda are recorded in the Council's deliberations and resolutions. All of us remember the images and reports in the media. In order to establish the facts and hold individuals accountable for their crimes, the Council created the ICTY and ICTR.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“Finally, later this month, my Office will launch the translation of our publication on the prosecution of conflict-related sexual violence at the ICTY into the Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian language. We further plan to prepare a comprehensive training programme for judiciaries in the former Yugoslavia. We hope that national prosecutors and judges can benefit from our work and achieve greater justice for the victims of sexual violence crimes. I have previously reported that regional judicial cooperation in war crimes justice in the former Yugoslavia is heading in the wrong direction, and, unfortunately, that is still the case today. My written reports (see S/2017/434 and S/2017/436) provide further details on this and other matters in the area of national war crimes justice.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“Accordingly, during the reporting period, we began planning for improvements in our electronic databases to increase the amount of evidence made available to Rwandan authorities and the ease with which they can access that evidence. We are also now discussing with the Prosecutor General of Rwanda the practical steps we can take to ensure better coordination and communication between our offices. Just a few weeks ago, and together with the Prosecutor General of Rwanda, we conducted a five-day, intensive skills-based training for prosecutors from Rwanda and other East African countries on the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. Through that kind of peer-to-peer capacity-building and knowledge transfer, we hope to better assist our national colleagues in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“We would be grateful for Security Council support for that proposal. During the reporting period, my Offices continued to assist national judiciaries prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. We are providing access to our evidence collection, assisting colleagues with advice on concrete cases, engaging with counterparts to identify challenges and solutions and monitoring developments at both the country and regional levels. In terms of our efforts, I would like to report briefly on a few examples. We are committed to deepening our cooperation with tRwandan authorities and strengthening the exchange of information and evidence.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“That in turn requires the right investigative and analytical capacity. Finally, my Office is aware that the window of opportunity to locate and arrest fugitives will not remain open forever. At the same time, we recognize the budgetary constraints facing the United Nations, and the Council's expectations in that regard. Quite simply, we recognize that our efforts to locate the remaining fugitives cannot continue forever. Accordingly, in our 2018-2019 budget, my Office is proposing to temporarily increase our resources with the clear understanding that they are time bound. If we do not demonstrate a track record of success over the coming few years, we will have to consider alternatives, which would include the option of fully transferring responsibility for the fugitives to national authorities.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“First, during the reporting period, we established two task forces, focused on Africa and Europe respectively, to support our fugitive tracking efforts. Those task forces bring our Office together with a number of key partners, particularly INTERPOL and national law enforcement agencies, in an operational structure that will be flexible and responsive. We would like to express our deep appreciation to the Government of Rwanda and the Secretary General of INTERPOL for their strong support to the establishment of those task forces. Secondly, as a result of our ongoing review, my Office is transitioning to a structure that is more appropriate to our operational requirements. We will take a more proactive approach to our work, which means pursuing new lines of investigations, including financial and telecommunications.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“At the Arusha branch, no trials or appeals are currently ongoing. However, my Office continued to investigate and litigate proceedings arising out of the ICTR's cases that were concluded. During the reporting period, we also commenced a thorough review of the case files against the three fugitives expected to be tried by the Mechanism so as to be prepared to commence those trials as soon as possible following an arrest. That brings me to our ongoing efforts to locate and arrest the eight fugitives indicted by the ICTR who remain at large. I would like to underscore our commitment to arresting and bringing those fugitives to justice. The victims of the Rwandan genocide deserve nothing less. There are three major developments on which I would like to report today.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“Ratko Mladie and Prosecutor v. Prlic' et al. - continue to be expected by the end of November. The successful completion of those important cases will be a fitting tribute to the long fight forjustice that the Council began in 1993. During the reporting period, my Office made further significant strides in prosecuting the cases transferred from the ICTY to the Mechanism. We successfully prepared and submitted our written arguments in the Karadeic' and Seselj appeals. We also continued our pre-trial preparations in the Prosecutor v. Mieo Stanis'ic' and Stojan Zupljanin case. As the President reported earlier, that trial is expected to commence next week. I can assure the Council that my Office will expedite the presentation of its evidence in that case consistent with our duty to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“Mr. Brammertz: I thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to address the Security Council on the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the activities of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in Arusha and The Hague. My Offices continue to be firmly focused on the same priorities, which are expeditiously completing trials and appeals, locating and arresting the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and assisting national jurisdictions in investigating and prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. In The Hague, in just a few months, the ICTY will complete its mandate and close its doors. Judgements in the two final cases, already mentioned by the President - Prosecutor v.”
2017-06-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7960 (2017) · source
“My Office is continuing its downsizing accordingly. At the same time, the transition of responsibilities from ICTY to the Residual Mechanism continues as foreseen in Security Council resolutions. I would like to close by expressing my Office's gratitude to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Since his first visit to ICTY in early 2007 until today, the Secretary-General has provided steadfast support for my Office's work and the fight against impunity. On behalf of the Offices of the Prosecutor of the ICTR, ICTY and the Residual Mechanis, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for standing behind us and giving us his full support, and I look forward to our continued cooperation with Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“As just one example of what can be done, my Office, with the generous financial support of partners, was recently able to train 30 prosecutors and professionals from Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda on the prosecution of conflict- related sexual Violence. Similarly, during my missions to the former Yugoslavia, victims associations and prosecutors expressed their appreciation for my Office's support and engagement in strengthening national capacities. Reflecting this commitment, our publication on lessons learned in the prosecution of conflict-related sexual Violence will now be translated for national prosecutors in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. With the presentation of final arguments in the Mladie case, ICTY took another significant step closer to completing its mandate.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“On a more positive note, the Office ofthe Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals continues to receive numerous requests from colleagues and Governments around the world to assist in strengthening domestic accountability for war crimes. At a time when international justice is the topic of much discussion, there should be agreement that one step forward is to ensure that national judiciaries are able to prosecute international crimes. We feel privileged that colleagues and partners throughout Africa fully support the work of the Office of the Prosecutor of Residual Mechanism and are eager to work with my Office to develop national judicial capacities.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“Let me be clear that it is possible to reverse these negative political trends. My Office calls upon officials in the region to act responsibly and refrain from politicizing ongoing investigations and prosecutions. My Office also urges Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia to return to constructive regional cooperation and swiftly undertake steps to rebuild trust in judicial accountability for war crimes. The international community can help by providing positive incentives and utilizing conditionality policies. As always, my Office stands ready to work with the countries of the former Yugoslavia and support initiatives to improve mutual trust and move the accountability process forward.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“My Office is further concerned that politicians and Government officials from the region are still undermining trust in judicial accountability for war crimes and calling into question the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. This poses a real risk to the rule of law throughout the region. Reactions to the recent arrests of 10 suspects in Orasje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, starkly illustrated this worrying trend. The glorification of war criminals also continues throughout the region, as demonstrated by Republika Srpska National Assembly's decision to officially decorate convicted war criminals. As long as the political environment and mindset do not support war crimes justice, it will be extremely difficult to meet the public's legitimate expectations for meaningful accountability.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“As previously reported, Croatian Government policy is obstructing judicial cooperation in certain war crimes cases, including Category II cases prepared by my Office. We have listened to Croatia's concerns, but it must be emphasized that, whatever the intention, current policy represents political interference with the justice process. My Office again urges Croatia to bring its policies in line with its commitments. These and similar political issues are negatively impacting national war crimes prosecutions, as my Office warned six months ago. Concrete cases are not moving forward, and regional judicial cooperation is under significant stress.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source
“The Serbian Government has failed for almost a year to appoint a new Chief War Crimes Prosecutor. The promised and much-needed additional staff and resources for the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office have not yet been provided. Activities to strengthen the Special Investigative Service for War Crimes within the police remain pending. During my last Visit to Belgrade, I underscored that progress on war crimes justice will not be achieved if Serbia does not put into practice the steps it identified in the Strategy and Action Plan. Serbian authorities gave me assurances that immediate action would be taken, but unfortunately none of those commitments has been honoured. With respect to Croatia, there continues to be a disconnect between the official commitment to supporting war crimes justice and what is happening in practice.”
2016-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7829 (2016) · source